adj. & v.
--adj.
1. piercing and high-pitched in sound.
2 derog. (esp. of a protester) sharp, unrestrained, unreasoning.
--v.
1. intr. (of a cry etc.) sound shrilly.
2 tr. (of a person etc.) utter or send out (a song, complaint, etc.) shrilly.
Derivatives:
shrilly adv. shrillness n.
Etymology: ME, rel. to LG schrell sharp in tone or taste f. Gmc